“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because He considered me faithful, putting me into service, even though I was formerly a blasphemer and a persecutor and a violent aggressor. Yet I was shown mercy because I acted ignorantly in unbelief; and the grace of our Lord was more than abundant, with the faith and love which are found in Christ Jesus. It is a trustworthy statement, deserving full acceptance, that Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, among whom I am foremost of all. Yet for this reason I found mercy, so that in me as the foremost, Jesus Christ might demonstrate His perfect patience as an example for those who would believe in Him for eternal life. Now to the King, eternal, immortal, invisible, the only God, be honor and glory forever and ever. Amen.”  1 Timothy 1:12-17

I once was lost but now I'm found
After years of being tossed around from heavy addiction, gambling problems and many other sins, Andrew didn't know what else to do.  Expelled and distant from family, he stumbled by a 5-acre ranch in Thousand Palms California (N.C.I.C) Discipleship Ministry. Seeing many tattooed and different raced men out by a pool, he was absolutely certain this was a connection for drugs where he could prosper his ways.  He whistled for one of the guys who came and invited him back to the house for a "meeting" on Friday.  Of course, he came back Friday thinking he would be credited an amount of drugs to sell.  Yet, little did he know he walked into a Friday night Bible study and discipleship home, heard the Word of God, was convicted, and decided to ask the pastor if he could enter the program!  His life forever changed.

Andrew was radically saved (Born Again) and changed from the inside out. No longer a slave to sin, he decided to stay at the ranch for 2 years, where he was brought to church every Wednesday and Sunday. Eventually he began serving with the children’s ministry.  The pastors discipled him for 8 more years, until the Lord called him as the youth Pastor at Calvary Chapel Palm Desert.  In addition, He serves on the worship team, and also ministers at Indio Juvenile Hall.  Andrew works in the medical field.  Andrew is beyond blessed and has found favor in being married to his bride Elisa who is also on the worship team and is the homemaker and mother of their 3 beautiful daughters—- Jemileh , Amira and Arabella.